News

Dubai top October choice from Manchester airport

Dubai was the most popular destination from Manchester airport during October school half-term with record passenger throughput.

The northwest hub handled more than 2.8 million travellers – the 13th consecutive record breaking month.

New routes have also proved popular with more than 11,000 passengers flying to Las Vegas on a Virgin Atlantic service which started in June and flights to Shanghai by Juneyao Air that began the following month.

Last month’s performance saw Manchester airport record 30.1million passengers in a 12 month period.

The airport reported that 99% of passengers waited less than 15 minutes to get to security – and 94% waited less than 10 minutes. 

Manchester airport managing director Chris Woodroofe said: “We’re really proud to serve the people of the north – connecting them to the destinations they want to travel to. 

“That’s why it’s always good to see new routes doing so well. Shanghai and Las Vegas are two destinations we were very excited to add to our network, which was already the biggest of any UK airport outside London. We always expected them to be popular and that has certainly proved to be the case.

“It’s also great to see that pretty much all our passengers got to security in less than 15 minutes, despite it having been a really busy period over half term. Not having to wait to get to security makes a big difference as it means people can relax and start their holidays at the airport.”

Sister MAG-owned airport Stansted recorded the busiest day in its history as the start of the half-term holidays saw more than 107,000 passengers pass through the terminal on October 27.

The new daily record beat the previous high of 104,000 set on August 23, and was the fourth time the milestone has been broken in 2024.

Strong demand for family holidays and short breaks, particularly during half-term, also saw Stansted record its busiest ever October with 2.67 million passengers using the airport, an increase of 97,000 on the same month last year.

MAG’s East Midlands airport handled 400,000 passengers last month, with numbers down slightly year-on-year as it moved into the winter season.

The top ten destinations from Manchester airport in October were: 

  1. Dubai
  2. Antalya
  3. Amsterdam
  4. Dublin
  5. Alicante
  6. Tenerife
  7. Palma
  8. Dalaman
  9. Malaga
  10. Paris  

Share article

View Comments

Jacobs Media is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more.